Outside the gates of Konoha on a raised platform, Hiruzen stood in his full Hokage outfit as the morning sun dyed them gold, with Shikaku and I flanking him on either side. Over seven hundred ninjas stood before us, young faces that had graduated early and hidden forces from the large clans. I recognized many faces among the crowd staring up at us, my team and many that I had served with on the Sand front.
Silence fell over the crowd as my father stepped forward and spoke, "Ninjas of the Leaf, we gather not for conquest, but for survival and for the lives of those who cannot fight for themselves. We march not out of greed or vengeance, but to bring balance to the chaos the Mist have spread across our coast."
"The Will of Fire," Hiruzen continued, his voice rising, "is not a flame that burns alone. It is the light we share. You carry it not as soldiers, but as protectors. Let that flame guide you, no matter how thick the fog becomes."
Most of the young ones straightened with pride, taking his words to heart, but I knew that few were truly ready for the bloodshed that they would face. I could only wonder how many would return after the war ended. My strategy had potential, but we had the largest border to secure which meant thinner lines, perfect for Mist ambushes.
Then, my father turned toward me and spoke, "Akari."
I stepped forward, the wooden boards creaking softly under my boots. My new armor caught the light as I looked out amongst the crowd, meeting numerous gazes. I could only hope my reputation from the Sand front would be enough to inspire hope and not question my experience.
"Ninjas of Konoha," I said, my voice steady and sharp, "you already know why we march. The Mist are circling in the waters, sniffing for blood, but we will show them that we remain strong. I can't promise you victory without loss, but I will stand beside you on the frontlines and protect our country, our Village, our friends, and our families from these cowards together!" I raised my hand sharply then pointed. "Move out."
The roar the crowd shook the air before they took off. Although a shinobi was fast, the army was not due to the resources that they needed to carry with them. My team and I might use storage scrolls casually since I had a personal stockpile, but the Village's priorities were different as they should be. It was smarter to send out supplies and carts with the bulk of the army and save the scrolls for supply runs with small teams.
I glanced at my father as the formations began to march down the road with carts of supplies pulled between them. His expression was calm but proud, and a light smile on his face. He rested a hand on my shoulder.
"Command them well," he murmured. "And come back whole."
"I intend to," I replied, meeting his eyes for a heartbeat before stepping down from the platform.
I joined Shikaku, and we moved to the front of the column. The morning dew faded with the rising sun as we marched southeast. The two of us talked about some of our plans going forward then called Inoichi, Choza, and Fugaku to the command tent when we stopped on the first night, though 'tent' was not quite right.
Showing off a jutsu that I planned on distributing to the outpost teams, my Earth Clone and I had created a stone building jutsu that required eight hand signs to perform. The roofs had ventilation designed into it while also allowing them to link multiple together to create a larger structure. Light needed to come by way of lamps, torches, or cutout in the roofs as a drawback, but the reasonable chakra cost and uniformity made it a great justu for base building.
Inside, Shikaku, Choza, Inoichi, Fugaku, and I sat around a folding table with several scrolls on it. I supplied dinner, stored ramen from Ichiraku that I reheated, which was a luxury out in the field that we would not be able to enjoy for some time. Of course, the food was not the only reason I called them to the command center, so after we finished eating, I started to explain.
"Our plan for dividing the forces," I began, "starts with thirty jonin that will be stationed across ten outposts with three per location. The outposts' priority is detection and reporting. I want to be alerted the moment that the Mist land on our shores, not an hour later."
"The remaining twenty will be split in half. Ten to the east, ten to the west to serve as mobile strike and support units; handling everything from delivering supplies, reinforcing outposts, and scouting for movement. I want them rotating routes frequently to keep the Mist guessing."
"The five of us will be the only jonin to remain stationed at the main camp while parts of the strike teams can cycle through as needed. Fugaku, you'll oversee the eastern strike team. Choza, the western team. Inoichi, you'll manage the outposts; reports, supply requests, and rotations all run through you. Shikaku will handle the main camp and the overall war strategy."
Fugaku raised a brow. "And you?"
I could not help the faint smirk tugging at my mouth. "I'll be on call, managing our map that will act as a visual representation of our forces, sending messages through my Flying Thunder God network, and possibly reinforcing teams that are under attack."
"Sending messages?" he could not help but ask.
"Shisui, come here for a moment," I called out.
Shisui, my young student, ducked into the room through the hanging curtain that doubled as a door and walked over to my side. "Yes, sensei?"
"Show these four your messaging bar," I instructed, and he immediately unclipped the palm-sized metal rod from his belt to start doing as I told. "Currently, I only have enough for the jonin, but I should have more in another two weeks. As you can see, they clip on easily to the belt and have been marked with my Flying Thunder God. Not only can I sense the location of these markings to relay on an enlarged map, but I can also send a message to a specific bar like this."
I retrieved a slip of paper and clip from a pouch on my waist. After hooking on the clip to the paper, I made a hand sign with a single hand and the paper vanished from my other hand. There was a silver flash from the bar in Shisui's hand, and the clip and paper were now hanging from the bar.
Fugaku's gaze lingered on the rod. "You've created a tracking network out of Flying Thunder God seals." His tone was not accusatory but rather measuring or assessing.
"Modified," I said. "But yes. It's faster than messenger birds and nearly impossible to intercept."
"Impressive," he said quietly, and I caught the flicker of respect in his expression before he masked it again.
"Thank you... Now then, I called you four together to start figuring out the troop division. I want efficiency on these teams, not ones created by clan dynamics. I don't need a confirmed list until we reach the coast, but I want you all to discuss it and get a feel for those you would be leading before finalizing anything. The eastern coast is the most dangerous, so we need the outposts and strike team on that side to have strong members, though Shikaku will have the last word on assignments. Also, I would like ten to fifteen ninjas with Earth Release, tomorrow night when we stop to camp, to teach them this jutsu that created this building; I believe that this will aid us greatly with building up our outposts and defenses," I directed.
Shikaku yawned, half-smiling as he reached for his pen. "We'll handle it, Commander."
I gave him a dry look. "Good, I'll leave you four to figure things out. Shisui, follow me."
Inoichi and Fugaku both reached for one of the scrolls that contained the roster of troops. As they started looking over the names, I stood up and led Shisui out of the command center. He did not ask any questions and simply followed me to the edge of camp. I summoned my Space-Time clone, who ran out without a word from me as she knew that I wanted her to start laying out my Flying Thunder God network. Pulling out one of my storage scrolls, I retrieved two sticks of dango and passed him one.
"So... do you know why I tasked dividing out the army to those four, instead of doing it myself?" I questioned as he studied me quietly.
"Because they have more experience than you," he replied after a few moments.
"That's a portion, but not as big as you think. All four are newly appointed clan heads of some of the largest clans in the Village, and less than ten years older than me, so they held minor roles in the last war. The truth is that I actually have more experience running a war front as I had to for nearly a week after Danzo death, and I ran the medical corps for that front as well, giving me an official title, unlike them. Inexperience and youth are what others will see on the outside, but underneath, I am giving them respect as leaders of their clans which make up the bulk of this force, showing my intention of sharing the war credits with them which will earn me their goodwill as long as things go well, and freeing myself up to have more time to train you," I explained, chuckling at the end.
"Oh! I understand, sensei!" he replied thoughtfully.
Shaking my head lightly as I munched on one of the dangos, I asked, "Shisui, do you want to become Hokage?"
"Of course! Being Hokage and protecting the Village is my dream!" he exclaimed excitedly.
I chuckled and ruffled his hair playfully. "Then learn well from me, and quick; war is a terrible thing, but it is a quick way to spread your name. Reinforcing field teams and outposts could be the start of your legend and rise to becoming Hokage."
"Don't you want to become Hokage, sensei?" he asked as he calmly flattened his hair.
"Nope," I smirked. "Becoming Hokage comes with a lot of responsibilities, limiting personal time, which I appreciate greatly. If I had it my way and nothing to worry about in the future, I'd retire to a nice house, practice fuinjutsu to pay my bills, and maybe open a restaurant in the village if I get bored. In reality, though, I plan to focus on my personal training and my students' training while avoiding missions for as long as possible... maybe even take a page from Tsunade's or Jiraya's book and travel the countries for a while. It would be nice to see the world outside our borders."
"Why can't you retire if that's what you want to do?"
"For the same reason why we are marching to the coast; conflict is harder to escape than the morning sun. We can't escape the future, so we must plan for it and work hard."
"Hn," he grunted softly in acknowledgement, finishing off his dango.
"Alrighty, enough heavy topics. Ten laps around the camp then you can head to bed."
Shisui nearly sighed but stopped himself and replied with a bit of force, "Yes, sensei!"
I chuckled as he took off sprinting then followed behind him casually. It was a significantly shorter distance than around the village, but after the long day on the road, he was definitely tired. He was banking on his speed and short-term stamina to finish quickly though it left his legs shaking as he made his way to his tent.
The next five days followed the same rhythm with marching throughout the day and meeting with the four clan heads or training Shisui in the evenings. By the time that the scent of salt air reached us, the forest had thinned, and the crash of the waves could vaguely be heard. Then, once we reached the top of a hill, the ocean covered the distance, and the city of Kaizuri Port was nestled on the coast a dozen kilometers up the road.
From this distance, the city looked almost serene. Its thick stone walls stretched high and unbroken, weathered by time and spray. The rooftops inside glinted with polished tile, and the tall masts of ships rose like a forest of spears marking the docks.
"Form up," I called out. "We'll establish camp two kilometers outside the city walls around that hill. Close enough to support the port, and far enough that the civilians won't get caught up if the Mist decide to strike."
The command carried through the ranks, spreading outward like a wave. The army moved into position at my direction and split into teams. Earth Release users moved away from the wagons under Choza's command, dropping to one knee and slamming their palms into the soil. The ground trembled beneath us as new walls rose in thick slabs of hardened clay and rock.
Behind them, the remaining squads began unloading the carts, unsealing crates of tents, rations, and lumber. Under Shikaku direction, teams of chunin moved to mark sectors to assemble small supply depots throughout the camp, placing the medical tents in the center of camp, and the command center on the hill overlooking the region.
Shikaku joined me after a while, scroll in hand, his usual half-lidded stare scanning the perimeter. "You're playing a dangerous game with this plan of yours."
"Worried now that we're in the field?" I retorted with a chuckle.
"The concern did cross my mind while I was looking at just how few would be remaining in the main camp," he remarked with a smirk.
"We would be lucky for the Mist to attack the main camp directly; it would be the only way that they would come with enough at one time and place for us to deal a devastating blow to them," I remarked.
Down below, the camp had started to take proper shape. Lines of tents rippled in the sea breeze, their banners marked with the Leaf's emblem. Teams dug shallow trenches along the perimeter which would help channel excess water out of the camp. The clang of tools mixed with the crash of waves and the low murmur of a thousand moving parts falling into place.
"We'll have finalized the orders and will be ready for distribution in the morning for the general army. The jonin meeting is within the hour," he said after a few minutes of silence.
I made a few hand signs and summoned both my Space-Time and Phantom Realm clones. They simply gave me a nod before they vanished with a flash of silver. He gave me a questioning look, and I smirked.
"It's a lot more efficient to do two dozen small jumps versus one long jump, so they are building the network for me," I explained.
"Seems troublesome," he remarked.
"Perhaps, but it certainly has its uses," I retorted as I led us back towards the command center.
The command center was made of stone and had several lanterns arranged in the corners for lighting. Several large tables had been placed, but it was the round one in the center of the room that drew attention as it was covered by a giant map of the coast. Several figurines had already been placed to mark the main camp and outposts while more laid in a box to the side, waiting for the troops to be deployed. Shisui and Fugaku stood together on one side of the map, discussing something quietly, while Inoichi and Choza were on the other side as Choza ate a leg of something; I had no idea when he had time to hunt and cook an animal.
The six of us chatted for a bit. Inoichi told me that my team of Kurenai, Asuma, Guy, and Duy were assigned to the nearest western outpost, both for safety and so I could check in on them regularly. I appreciated the thought with how close we had become over the years as I knew that I would worry about them.
The jonin began to trickle in and, before the required time, all fifty-five had gathered in the building. It was not too difficult to get them to settle down and pay attention as I began to explain the troop distribution and messaging bars. With my own reputation and four major clan heads behind me, no one questioned my plan, and everyone lined up to receive their mission scroll... well, nearly everyone.
"Well, well, if it isn't the terror of the Sarutobi compound."
I blinked, then turned around and grinned despite myself.
"Nawaki."
He looked older than the last time that I had seen him, and a little rough around the edges, but otherwise good. His brown hair cropped shorter than I remembered and the faint lines of fatigue around his eyes. He still had the same childish grin that I knew from my childhood, and I could only wonder if he had finally grown up.
He was taller now and built like a proper jonin with lean, solid muscle under the standard flak jacket. His forehead protector hung loose around his neck, and the way he carried himself spoke of experience rather than arrogance, so maybe he had.
"I almost didn't recognize you without a lecture or a black eye," I teased.
He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, well, my sister's been… busy. Mostly gambling away the inheritance I'll never see."
I arched a brow. "I'd say that's your fault for letting her manage your finances."
"Ha! You think I let her?" He laughed, warm and unrestrained. "You clearly have forgotten Tsunade when she decides that she's right about something, and how easy it is to change her mind."
I smirked. "Oh, I remember, and it's why I don't lend her money."
"It's not like she gives me a choice. She treats her student better than her own brother," he lamented.
Glancing over at Shisui, I chuckled, "Another thing that I have in common with her."
"I heard about you taking a personal student," he remarked as he followed my gaze, "still surprised that you wanted an Uchiha."
"Give me a few months with him, and you'll understand. The only thing stronger than his potential is his heart; he is exactly the type of Uchiha that would have made your grandfather proud," I said confidently.
"I'm sure if you are investing your time in him," he agreed.
"He could also beat the you from our first duel, and he's only nine."
"You're not seriously bringing that up again, are you?" he complained
"Oh, absolutely," I said, unable to stop my grin. "Our official duel... you, the proud genin trying to prove you were ready for the front lines, and me, a four-year-old desperate to prove I didn't need babysitting. Crazy to think that it's been thirteen years."
He groaned. "You shouldn't have even been allowed to challenge me; I was three times your age."
"But I was," I said, my tone smug. "You wanted desperately to go to the frontlines, and my father wanted to prove that I was too young to be a shinobi... you both failed."
"You didn't win; I stumbled and fell, which you took advantage of," he countered quickly, pointing at me.
"I outmaneuvered you," I corrected, raising a finger in mock offense. "You relied too much on power, Nawaki, and fell right into the trap I set. I even left you an opening on purpose just to see if you'd take it."
"You used my own momentum against me."
"Yep, and the substitution technique along with a rope snare," I added cheerfully. "Clean, efficient, and witnessed by half the Sarutobi compound and the Village Elders."
His groan this time was deeper, more dramatic. "That match cost me my war pass. Do you have any idea how long Tsunade made fun of me for losing to a toddler?"
"Oh, I can imagine," I said with a smirk. "You should be grateful. If you'd gone to the front that young, you might not be here now. So really, I did you a favor."
"Right," he said, chuckling as he crossed his arms. "You saved my life by publicly humiliating me in front of your father and the elders."
"Exactly."
He rolled his eyes, but his grin stayed. "You haven't changed a bit."
"Neither have you," I replied. "Still chasing trouble, still losing bets with your sister, and still pretending it's all part of the plan."
That got a real laugh out of him, one that reached his eyes. The years between us vanished for a moment, replaced by something easy and familiar. It reminded me of home, laughter between training drills, and a time when wars were just stories told by adults.
"I'll see you around... Commander," he said with a slight smirk before he joined the end of the line that was nearing Shisui.